DR Congo

The days of the UN peace keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be numbered.

The Congolese authorities have told the UN under secretary General, Alain Le Roy, that they want MONUC out of the country by the middle of next year.

Mr Le Roy has been there having discussions with President Joseph Kabila and his government about the gradual withdrawal of the peace keeping mission from the country.

The current mandate of UN mission is due to expire at the end of May and a renewed mandate should therefore include an exit strategy.

While no details of the timeline have been given the Congolese government appears keen to have all the "blue helmets", as they are known, gone before the next presidential elections.

For details Paul Bakibinga has been speaking to the BBC's Thomas Fessy in Kinshasa.